Joseph, Demps don’t practice; Johnson and Foster ‘part time’

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Several key Texans didn’t practice or were limited in practice Wednesday, but Gary Kubiak said there’s no reason to be overly concerned.

Cornerback Johnathan Joseph and safety Quintin Demps didn’t go at all — the former because of a groin strain and the latter because of a broken thumb, which required surgical repair — while receiver Andre Johnson (groin) and running back Arian Foster (knee) were “part-time” participants, as was defensive end Antonio Smith, who has a sore ankle and was also a little under the weather.

“They’re fine,” Kubiak said. “But it’s the time of the year … we’ve got a lot of snaps under our belt. You’ve got to be smart with them.”

Kubiak expects all of them — Demps included — to be ready for Sunday’s game against the Titans. The only certain scratch is third wide receiver Lestar Jean, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday.

“Lestar was in here an hour after surgery,” Kubiak said. “He’s up and around and doing good today. He’s 100 percent committed to the treatment. Maybe we’ll be able to pull this off like we did with (tight end James) Casey a couple years ago. We got James back in two weeks (after the same procedure).”

Kubiak wary of running game
Surprisingly, the Titans are a distant last in the NFL in rushing despite having Chris Johnson in their backfield, but Gary Kubiak thinks the problems lie in Tennessee’s brutal early schedule rather than discord in the huddle.

“It’s part of this league,” he said. “They may have played the toughest schedule in football — at New England, at San Diego, then Detroit. Over a period of time, you tend to bust out. But I want to make sure it’s not this week.”

The Titans are averaging only 39 rushing yards per game. Johnson has 45 yards on 33 carries, a mere 1.4 per attempt. Tennessee is also 31st in total defense, giving up 463 yards per game.

The Texans fell to second overall defensively, trailing the Dallas Cowboys. But the Texans remain No. 1 in third-down defense, having surrendered first downs just 22 percent of the time.

No. 1 ranking means little
Several Texans were asked what it means to be the top-rated team in the NFL right now, according to the Associated Press.

“Not much,” Andre Johnson said. “We’ve played three games.”

Quarterback Matt Schaub added that such a rating would mean “a lot more in February.”

Teammates give Schaub an earful
The damage to Matt Schaub’s left ear was hidden by a small bandage, and he insisted he’s fine. And he bears no malice toward the Broncos’ Joe Mays, who blasted him so hard on an attempted sack that Schaub’s helmet flew off, taking a piece of flesh with it.

Mays was suspended for a game and fined $50,000 for the hit. Schaub didn’t offer his opinion on the decision, although some teammates said the punishment fit the crime.

“Things happen — no hard feelings,” Schaub said. “He came up and apologized, and I’m fine.”

Teammates are kidding him about the nature of the injury, and even Gary Kubiak got into it, saying, “We’ll give him a big hat.”

Munchak has praise for Watt
Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is second in the NFL with 5.5 sacks so far this season.

What makes his accomplishment more impressive is the position from which he does it.

Pass-rushers who rack up numbers in sacks in a 3-4 defense are typically outside linebackers.

“The fact that he stays on the field and plays all three downs gives him more opportunities to make plays,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said.